iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

The people of Clacton have the chance to do something VERY funny.

David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

After 250 years, we should be able to ask: Was the American Revolution a success? Well, I think the only sane answer is to repurpose the quote by Zhou Enlai about the French Revolution and say: "It's too early to tell." Happy 4th of July 🇺🇸

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

I don't take people seriously unless they are capable of intellectually understanding Libertarian Socialism. Just to be clear: I don't mean they have to agree with it, but they have to display at least the cognitive capacity to grasp it as a political philosophy.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Not to be rude but will Zohran do any Democratic Socialism? Or did he just mean social democracy?

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

A corrupt, dysfunctional or service oriented trade union is 100x better than no union. If it's not yellow, join it.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

I actually voted against Andy Burnham for leader in 2015 (and was then directly expelled from the Labour Party), but if he loses in Makerfield it would mark the end of Labour as an electoral force, and solidify Reform and Restore as credible representatives of working class anger.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Deng Xiaoping will be viewed in the future as one of the most important political figures of the 20th century. This is especially crazy given that he only took office in 1978.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

I still can't believe Michael Foot lost to Margaret Thatcher in 1983, and I was minus five years old when it happened.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

My latest piece in the Global Labour Column discussing how Employee Stock Ownership Plans were designed to save capitalism, but have accidentally given organized labour an incredible tool for wealth redistribution. globallabourcolumn.org

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

The goal of socialism is freedom. Worker ownership of the means of production. To oppose this is to support the tyranny of the bosses.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Found a rare photo of my Grandad (top right) serving King and country during the Korean War. Or at least playing hockey during it.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Punk may have done more damage to Anarchism than Franco

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

"And do you think that unto such as you: A maggot-minded, starved, fanatic crew God gave a secret, and denied it me? Well, well, what matters it? Believe that, too" Omar Khayyâm

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

I once met the great grandson of Nestor Makhno's personal driver. He told me Makhno "drunkenly beat his great grandpa quite a lot", but that he'd remained a loyal Anarchist until the day he died, saying he'd "frankly probably deserved it".

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

Cologne's 'Kiosk Kultur' is unrivaled.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

I have a crippling fear of spiders. I once almost jumped out of a moving car because of one, and suffer terror-attacks or blackouts if they get too close. I'm going to Costa Rica and need your thoughts and prayers.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Proud to have a chapter published (in German) alongside so many incredible people - looking at the successful role of employee buyouts in building union power. Yes, this is an attempt to push German unions in that direction. Happy to give 30% discounts for those interested in a copy. ✊🏻

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Reposted by David O'Connell

Benjamin Braun @benbraun.social · 03/02/2026

Spain's constitution promises democracy at work. Last year, @yolandadiaz.bsky.social convened an expert group to study how to make good on that promise. Lead by @isabelleferreras.bsky.social, we have delivered what is, we think, the highest-level 400-page report on economic democracy out there. 1/2

Front page of the report, available here: https://reportondemocracyatwork.org/en/the-report/

Picture of Yolanda Diaz and the expert committee members at the report's launch in Madrid, 2 Feb 2026.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

Throughout the 80s, the United Steelworkers negotiated "rights of first refusal" into CBAs with companies. This meant that if it was sold off or closed, the workers got to make the first bid to buy it out - making it employee owned. Imagine doing this at scale in the public sector

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

"The goal is nothing, the movement everything" Eduard Bernstein, 1899

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

Never thought I'd live to see Neil Kinnock accurately explain Syndicalism and Proudhon to Rory Stuart and Alistair Campbell.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

I found some old Libertarian Socialist pamphlets, circa 1960s. Not entirely sure where I got them, but they're a real gem.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

What a true party of the people Reform is shaping out to be. Who knew so many Tory MPs had secretly always wanted to stand up to the Westminster elites on behalf of the working class. www.bbc.com/news/article...

bbc.com

Ex-Tory Home Secretary Suella Braverman defects to Reform UK

The MP was unveiled as Reform's latest recruit by leader Nigel Farage at a rally, bringing the number of the party's sitting MPs to eight.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

While Europe's eye is fix'd on mighty things, The fate of Empires and the fall of Kings; While quacks of State must each produce his plan, And even children lisp the Rights of Man; Amid this mighty fuss just let me mention, That the Rights of Woman merit some attention Robert Burns, 1792

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

Capitalism has its moments 😅

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

Let's build terrifying union power.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

The UKs National Health Service is the largest socialist institution in the west. A non-profit, decomodified universal healthcare system won by the labour movement. I'm proud to have been born within it, and proud of the immense work it does to save and protect life.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

"The less you eat, drink, buy books, go to the theatre or to balls, or to the pub, the less you think, love, theorize, sing, paint, fence, the more you will be able to save and the greater will become your treasure, which neither moth nor rust will corrupt. The less you are, the more you have" Marx

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

What's the UN up to these days?

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Everything can change, on a new years day.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

"If ever I get all the money I earn, my boss will be broke and to work he must turn." - Bruce Duncan Phillips

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

Socialism is workers’ control over production. That’s it.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

Come do a Masters Course in Germany, for trade unionists! Application period: 1 December 2025 – 31 March 2026 Questions? Email glu.germany@uni-kassel.de (or ask me, happy to help) More info here: global-labour-university.org/studying/mas...

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

The Most Serene Republic of Venice lasted over 1,100 years, making it the longest lasting and most stable republic in history. The United States, for comparison, is only 250 years old.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

Capitalism is not markets, and socialism is not planning. In fact, capitalism can be highly planned, and socialism can utilize free markets. E.g. market socialism, with a system of worker cooperatives participating in a genuinely free market. The difference is who owns the means of production.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Ian Mikardo. Labour MP for Reading from 1950, pushed for the implementation of widespread employee ownership and worker self-management as part of the Attlee Government's nationalisation programme. A reminder of the party's transformative, more socialist tradition. He'd probably be expelled today.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

The left should talk more about power redistribution than wealth redistribution.

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

They let me into the US!, a pleasure to meet great comrades at Rutgers' Labor Education Center 🇺🇸

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David O'Connell @daviduk.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

The trade union is the pathway to socialism

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